Politicians from both sides of Hong Kong’s divide reaching out to international contacts as US-China trade war threatens to hit city
- Pro-Beijing parties have followed pan-democrats in cultivating relations overseas
- Both sides concerned after US advisory commission in Washington suggested reviewing separate trade status Hong Kong enjoys from China
Hong Kong political parties from across the spectrum have stepped up interactions with the international community, as trade disputes between the United States and China threaten to affect the city’s free trade status.
The largest pro-Beijing party, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), has tasked vice-chairman Holden Chow Ho-ding with strengthening ties with foreign politicians, diplomats and businesspeople, while the Democratic Party has set up a high-powered committee to bolster overseas connections.
Previously, the pro-Beijing camp was more circumspect about going overseas to talk about developments in the city, while their pro-democracy rivals were more active to the point of being accused by pro-Beijing media of bad -mouthing Hong Kong abroad.
DAB lawmaker Chow went on a rare trip to the US in December after being invited to Washington by Republican congressman Robert Pittenger to attend a forum on money laundering attended by officials and legislators from 80 countries and economies.
Chow stayed behind in the American capital after the event and met US State Department officials to discuss Hong Kong political and trade issues.
His trip came in the wake of a report published in November by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC), which advises the US Congress.